Nigerians, are we sleepwalking into another electoral disaster? Senator Victor Umeh is sounding the alarm bells, warning that recent moves in the National Assembly could be paving the way for a repeat of the chaotic 2023 elections. The core issue? The fight to make electronic transmission of election results a non-negotiable part of our laws. If this crucial safeguard is weakened, Umeh fears we’ll lose public trust and invite a fresh wave of election disputes. Here’s the lowdown:
- Senator Umeh highlights fears of electronic transmission being removed from the Electoral Act.
- A closed-door agreement was allegedly overturned during plenary, leading to confusion.
- The debate is between ‘electronic transmission’ and a vaguer ‘transfer of results’.
- The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on inadmissible electronic evidence sparked this amendment push.
- Stakeholders, including INEC and CSOs, had previously agreed on real-time electronic transmission.
- Arguments about infrastructure and power supply for electronic transmission are being debunked.
The Electronic Transmission Tug-of-War
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, has dropped a bombshell, suggesting that Nigeria might be on the brink of repeating the electoral controversies of 2023. His primary concern revolves around the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, specifically the potential sidelining of real-time electronic transmission of election results. Umeh argues that if this vital component isn’t firmly embedded in the law, the credibility of our elections will take a serious hit, and public trust will be eroded. He voiced these concerns in a recent interview with ARISE NEWS, expressing fears that whispers of Nigerians about the electronic transmission being quietly axed might just be true.
Senate Proceedings Under Scrutiny
The senator detailed how a supposed consensus reached during a closed-door Senate session, agreeing to retain electronic transmission, was seemingly reversed in the plenary session without much fanfare. “What is ongoing now is something that, if care is not taken, the fears of Nigerians will be confirmed — that electronic transmission of results will be dropped,” Umeh stated emphatically. He explained that a motion to remove electronic transmission and replace it with the term ‘transfer’ was swiftly passed via a voice vote, a move he described as the crux of the problem. This, he argues, effectively reverts the provision to the less precise ‘transfer of results’ language found in the 2022 Electoral Act, which doesn’t guarantee the same level of transparency as direct electronic transmission.
Why the Push for Electronic Transmission?
The urgency to amend the Electoral Act, Umeh clarified, didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It was significantly influenced by the Supreme Court’s judgment following the 2023 presidential election. Back then, the court pointed out that electronic transmission of results wasn’t explicitly recognized in the existing law, making it inadmissible as evidence. This legal gap highlighted the critical need to legally cement electronic transmission to ensure its validity and acceptance in future electoral disputes.
The senator emphasized that the amendment process has been a collaborative effort. Stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), various political parties, legal experts, and civil society organisations, were all on board, agreeing that real-time electronic transmission to INEC’s portal is essential for transparent elections. Public hearings across the country also echoed this demand, with Nigerians overwhelmingly in favour of its inclusion in the Electoral Act.
House vs. Senate: A Divergent Path?
Adding another layer to the complexity, Umeh noted that the House of Representatives has already passed its version of the amendments, which includes provisions for electronic transmission of results, direct primaries, and other electoral reforms. He expressed deep concern that if the Senate’s current proceedings are approved without harmonisation with the House, the entire effort to enshrine electronic transmission could be scuttled. “If the votes and proceedings are approved the way they are, then electronic transmission of results has collapsed,” he warned.
Debunking the Doubts: Infrastructure and Power Woes?
Senator Umeh was quick to dismiss concerns about Nigeria’s infrastructure and power supply hindering electronic transmission. He pointed to the success of numerous elections, including the 2023 general election itself, where results for the National Assembly were transmitted without a hitch. He further cited the Anambra governorship election on November 8th, where polling unit results were uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal by 8 pm, with the result declared within hours. Umeh also addressed the issue of electricity, stating that INEC devices are battery-powered and not reliant on a constant electricity supply. Even if an immediate upload fails, he assured, the results would be transmitted within minutes.
Preserving Democracy and Alternative Platforms
Beyond the technicalities of election transmission, Umeh touched upon the broader political landscape in Nigeria. He described the current phase as ‘abnormal,’ with a concerning concentration of power in one political party, leading to a weakening of opposition platforms. He stressed the importance of maintaining diverse political alternatives to safeguard democracy, stating, “Everybody cannot belong to one political party. Nigeria must have alternative platforms where citizens can say no, even when the majority has its way.” When pressed about his own party affiliation, the senator clarified that he is no longer with the Labour Party.
The implications of these legislative maneuvers are significant. Without a clear and legally binding provision for real-time electronic transmission, Nigeria risks not only repeating the post-election disputes of 2023 but also facing a severe erosion of public trust in the democratic process. The call for transparency and accountability in elections must be heeded, ensuring that every vote truly counts and is reliably recorded.
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